Backdrops for Cardboard Sidekick

Let's imagine a world for a cardboard sidekick or toy friend.  Here are some ways to decorate a piece of cardboard to make a background for your special friend. You can use a small piece, a big piece or a long piece of cardboard and fold it so your sidekick can stand in front of and on top of your background!

 Chalk!  Use any kind of Chalk!  We used chalk to create a jungle background using repeated organic, wavy, shapes. Use your finger to smudge your chalk or spray it with hairspray to prevent any smearing! Be careful with chalk dust if you or your little has respiratory issues.

Markers! Try using Markers to create a geometric city scene.  What kind of shapes can you use to create buildings? How about your building’s windows and doors? How can use shapes to show those? Layer markers and use repeated dots or dashes to create a busy feel.  By the way, did you know playing with shapes and repetition is MATH learning?

Watercolor! Maybe your sidekick doesn’t live in our world, but in outer space! Use watercolor to make planets and stars to set the mood. Watercolors can be mixed on your cardboard when dry or wet! If you don’t have watercolors on hand, water down some food coloring or put a marker in water for 5 to 10 minutes and VOILA you have some paint!

Tempera and Acrylic!  Backgrounds don’t have to be an exact place or have a theme.  Glob, smoosh and swoosh paint to create an environment for your sidekick to enjoy.  Embrace the feel of sticky drippy paint on a brush and repeat and respond to your shapes and marks as you make them! If you are afraid of mess, work on a cheap shower curtain  for easy clean up! If you choose to use acrylic beware, for it stains!

Collage! Flip through old magazines to find photos of a place your sidekick would like to go, or use shapes and colorful paper to invent a world for your friend to explore.  If your little is still learning to use scissors, become their art assistant and cut out what they would like to use! 

Mix these techniques or focus on just one! Please show us your creation when you're done! *** take photos and videos while you work to also help reflect on your creation at the end of the week.  Use a “hashtag” (#Chicagochildrensmuseum) or an “at” (@ChicagoChildrensmuseum) to share your creations and stories with others! (this can be shown just with our end of video @ graphic)  Be sure to visit us tomorrow to see our next activity for you and your sidekick!